Hold the sauce! Dry January continues to gain popularity

Dry January has become a popular lifestyle choice for many in the province as more people embrace sobriety to kick off the year.

At Apero a Zero, Quebec’s first non-alcoholic beverage store, there are plenty of options to toast with.

Co-owner Sophie Aubin said cutting booze out of the equation has nothing to do with compromising taste or pleasure.

“It's all the same to me,” said Aubin. “It's just about sharing experiences, new products and discovering stuff with people.”

The Hochelaga shop opened two years ago, and Aubin has seen a rise in popularity for Dry January in that time.

“I think a lot of people are more mindful about their health and they're trying to make resolutions so yes it's a busier month,” she said.

Apero a zero co-owner Sophie Aubin said people of all ages are opting for non-alcoholic options. (Laurence Brisson Dubreuil / CTV News)

Educ’Alcool executive director Genevieve Desautels said giving up alcohol comes with many perks.

“If you drink a bit more, maybe you will find yourself having a better sleep or better way of thinking- especially at those downtime of the day,” she said.

However, to see real improvement, it’s important not to swap spirits for other substances, she said.

“You have to pay attention if you do something else instead - eat more sugar, or chips or maybe doing more cannabis or other things,” said Desautels.

Some studies have shown that sobriety and drinking in moderation is even becoming more popular with younger people.

A poll in 2024 showed that 22 per cent of Gen Zers reported never having drank alcohol.

The number drops to 12 per cent for millennials.

Aubin sees people of all ages opting for non-alcoholic drinks.

“We found so many types of people,” she said. “We get people that had to stop drinking for health reasons.”